Wrong Bobby Hauck and Tim Polasek are not going to leave where they are in the FCS at this point in their careers. MSU is a stepping stone program while NDSU and UM are not. NDSU and UM are also the 2 best FCS programs all time depending on what your metric is you could put either at one. MSU is not even close which makes sense why you are a stepping stone program.
Montana and NDSU are 100% stepping stone programs. The only difference right now is Bobby Hauck is 61 years old and likely is looking at Montana to be his retirement spot. That's what makes the NDSUs, SDSUs, Montanas, and MSUs different. These are programs with such a high pedigree that coaches want to coach here if it means it can elevate them to other career opportunities in the FBS. And being a stepping stone is not an insult. Programs should want to be stepping stones for coaches, because that means if your coach is leaving, it's most likely due to that coach continuing the level of success the program expects.
NDSU:
Craig Bohl (2003-2013) - Left for Wyoming
Chris Klieman (2014 -2018) - Left for Kansas State
Matt Entz (2019-2023) - Left for assistant role with USC in 2024, Head coach at Fresno State in 2025.
Tim Polasek (2024 - present)
Montana:
Bobby Hauck 1.0 (2003 - 2009 - Left for UNLV (he was 45 years old)
Robin Pflugrad (2010 - 2011) - Fired before he could get settled in.
Mick Delaney (2012 - 2014) - Came out of retirement to save the program (69 years old)
Bob Stitt (2015 -2017) - Struggled to be consistent at Montana. Was 50 when he was hired.
Bobby Hauck (2018 - present) - Was 54 when hired, now is 61. Likely coasting to retirement now.
If anything, Montana has not truly been a stepping stone program since Bobby Hauck's first tenure. Bob Stitt had an opportunity to be the first since, but he royally F'd that opportunity up haha. We've since become a program that either fires the coaches for not producing results, or a place for coaches to retire.